A total of 172 flights, including international and cargo planes, were disrupted by recent North Korean balloon launches filled with trash, leading to major delays at Incheon and Gimpo airports. More than 25,000 passengers experienced significant inconveniences, according to South Korean media outlet MBC.
Data provided by Democratic Party lawmaker Han Jeong-ae’s office, sourced from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, reveals that on June 1st, from 10:48 p.m. for about 54 minutes, North Korean balloons led to a temporary halt in takeoffs and landings at Incheon Airport.
During the incident, eight flights, including a Korean Air passenger jet from Bangkok, were forced to attempt their landings or experienced other operational delays. A similar disruption occurred on June 26, when authorities, prioritizing aircraft safety, suspended all flight operations for over two hours, affecting 10 international flights. This included an Asiana Airlines flight carrying 297 passengers from San Francisco, which was forced to turn back.
In total, over a three-month period from June, Incheon and Gimpo airports experienced six major disruptions caused by these balloon launches. This resulted in 15 flights rerouted to other airports, 15 landings re-attempted, 54 departures delayed, and 88 flights waiting in mid-air before being allowed to land.
Beyond the aviation sector, residents in the Seoul metropolitan area also reported damages from the balloon incidents. In June, a building in Seoul’s Jongno district sustained roof damage, incurring 14 million won ($10,558) in costs, while a vehicle in Bucheon suffered 1.2 million won in damages to the driver’s side.
To compensate affected residents, local governments have utilized reserve funds. To date, a total of 92.9 million won has been paid out, including 79.5 million won by Seoul City and 13.3 million won by Gyeonggi Province, covering 68 cases of damage.
Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Northern Police Department confirmed that 101 reports related to the balloon incidents were received between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. on October 2, with two of these cases handed over to military authorities. The police clarified that these reports included sightings of balloons floating in the air, though the number of balloons recovered and sent to the military was lower than usual due to strong winds.
Since the end of May, when North Korea began launching balloons toward the South, 1,945 reports have been filed in the Gyeonggi northern region, with 1,211 of these cases transferred to the military.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff previously confirmed that North Korea had launched balloons filled with trash, with an estimated 150 balloons sent toward South Korea. By 3 p.m. on October 2, approximately 60 pieces of debris had been recovered in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas. While the contents included paper, plastic bottles, and other waste, none of the materials posed any safety threats according to analysis.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
